What do the titles mean?
 

Ok, got my first working GSD and am a member of a club. My question is, what do the abbreviations mean for the titles that the dogs get? Example, my dog, per contract, has to get her BH. I think this is an obedience title. Anyone point me in the right direction?

A BH is an IPO title. IPO used to be called Schutzhund. It is an obedience/temperment test you have to pass in order to establish that you have a stable dog and have reasonable command over them. You might try USA's website for more info www.germanshepherddog.com

In the FCI rules it is called "Companion trial with temperament test and documentation check for dog handler"

It is not a title but a temperment test in order for a dog to proceed to IPO titles.

Thanks so much! She has her CGC, but my breeder wants her to have her BH. I would love to do obedience with her! I live in a very small town and there is just the one club. When I asked about advanced ob, I was told she was to young and that we were doing it with the puppy Schutzhund.

You can read what it requires in the FCI Rules...

www.fci.be/circulaires/55-2011-annex-en.pdf

Starting on page 21

Thanks! That helps alot. Do you know how old they have to be to do this? Gabby is 10 months old now.

15 months for the BH

It goes like this:

1. BH - Basic Obedience and Sociability test to make sure your dog is safe, obedient, social and under control. The BH then gives you a sort of license to do -

2. IPO 1 - Basic Tracking, Obedience and Protection. Once you've got IPO 1 you can then do

2a. An AD which is an endurance test where you take your dog on something like a 20km(?) run under the supervision of an SV judge which then allows you to attempt

2b (or not 2b hahaha!). A Koerung which is a Breed Survey type thing that takes into account everything from hip/elbow scores to conformation to temperament to bite work. I think you also have to have a basic show grading to attempt the Koerung but I can't remember. If you want to breed from your dog and it be worth anything in Germany you pretty much have to have at least IPO 1 and Koerung.

Or you can skip the Keorung and go straight onto

3. IPO 2 and 3 which are incrementally more difficult versions of IPO 1 with 3 being the hardest qualification.

Basically the ultimate fully qualified Working GSD will look something like SG (=very good show grading) Vongalanberg Kai (the name of the dog) Kkl. 1 (Koerklasse 1 - the top grading) IPO 3 (IPO Working Qualification) AD (Endurance test).

After that all you can do is go for the big National/International Trials where you compete in IPO 3 against the best of the best. You can also do FH 1 and 2 which are advanced tracking qualifications, too.

Its a lot of hard work but the Germans don't mess about!